There will be a lot of NBC late-night lasts and highs over the next few days as Jay Leno wraps his second and likely final turn on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Fallon prepares to succeed him. Last night was the final Friday edition of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, which bows out February 6, with both Tonight and Late Night posting big ratings. Despite lower viewership levels on Friday, Tonight Show scored a 3.9 in metered-market households, a season high and its best result in 15 months; since Wednesday, October 24, 2012 when President Obama was a guest (4.0). It was the highest Friday Tonight rating since July 27, 2012, the night of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony (4.0). Leno boosted his successor, with Late Night With Jimmy Fallon logging a 2.2 in households, the show’s highest rating for any night of the week in four years, since February 12, 2010, the night of the Vancouver Olympics Opening Ceremony (2.5).

40 Comments

Big Fan • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Bye bye Leno. The show just got funnier.

Anonymous • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Yeah but Funnier doesnt pay the bills, Ratings do. NBC will poke the ad clients for more $$ for these higher ratings then watch them have to give makegoods come spring time when Fallon’s “Tonight” ratings dive from the levels Jay leave behind.

dbr • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

well stated.

J • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

For part of the last week, Craig Ferguson was in reruns due to his illness. Some people probably switched over to Fallon. He was back Thurs and Fri. I doubt that all of his audience kept checking to see if he had new eps those days so his whole week is gonna be down a bit. Not everybody watching Fallon is a Jay holdover.

Actually he was in reruns because he had a planned trip for standup in Canada, which he had to cancel because of his illness. Considering he did the show sick for three weeks I doubt he would suddenly cancel any shows. Probably just a planned break which they kept when Ferguson cancelled his trip. Your point is still taken, but I doubt it had that much of an impact on Fallon’s ratings.

Comcastic • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

We need as much Fallon as we can get he’s ratings gold! Starting today I want the following changes implemented effective immediately! We are going to get as much mileage from this guy as we possibly can while he’s still fresh and hot!

The Sochi Winter Olympics Starring Jimmy Fallon

NBC’s Nightly News Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Today Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Meet The Press Starring Jimmy Fallon

Saturday Night Live Starring Jimmy Fallon

And so on and so forth. Every single network show must add Jimmy Fallon to the title. We don’t know how long his heat will last so we have to use him as much as we can.

Jimmy is clearly very talented. All of his guests say how he is such a good guy. Therefore, I think he deserves and will do well on the tonight show. Congrats Jimmy!

sam • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Who and why they push for this guy Fallon, I probably will never understand, But I feel if it is just someone the NBC people want to replace Leno with, it should be SETH MEYERS, please o please please please. I really do not want to be stuck with this Fallon guy for what I suspect might be the next two decades. Thank you, sam

Anonymous • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Every newer host since O’Brien has come direct from SNL EP Lorne Michaels. Either this guy has minority ownership of NBC, some major crap on NBC brass or just one hell of a show runner and contract negotionator when it comes to producing. Wonder how long it will take Lorne to get Later away from Carson Daly to give Keenan Thompson etc a late night show?

Thomas Cahill • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

I was inclined to post my very similar perspective on this epic hand-off but I’d rather just play off of yours. Seth Myers carries himself so well, uniquely hilarious and profossional. He would have conquered news/television/comedy as The Tonight Show host or as successor to Lorne Michaels on SNL. My only opposition is that Jimmy Fallon really surprised me when he became a kick-ass Late Night host. I’m sure he’ll do great on Tonight as well.

Linda Myer • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

I am so happy for Jimmy Fallon. I remember the very first night I saw Jimmy on Late Night…… The next day I told my best friend “Jimmy was amazing! He was warm, he was charming He will be the next Johny Carson” I must be a fortune teller. I’ve been a fan of Jimmys since SNL. HE has it all. i hope the Roots are going with him. They’re so talented. That was the other comment to my friend “and his band is incredible!”. I loved Johnny Carson, I love Jay Leno and if Jay needs to leave…… I love Jimmy in that spot!!!:))))”

Nerdist • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

I hear people compare Fallon to Carson a lot.
I’m not sure why they are looking for the next Carson (No disrespect) when the age group they are trying to target most likely doesn’t even remember him. Or even watched him regularly.
He retired over 20 years ago… so anyone not in their mid to late 30’s probably never saw him.
I can see NBC wanting to grab the younger demographic but I don’t see them tuning in because Fallon reminds them of Carson.
P.S. I like Jimmy Fallon as well. :) And Leno ;)

tucker • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Fallon will do fine, but i hate the 11:30 New York. Tonight Show has to be LA. LA is now cooler than NY. NYC used to be the “cool” city. Now Manhattan is run a muck with a bunch of hipster mellinials.I think the Roots are the last remaing black folk in Manhattan. I see people jumping to Kimmel. Fallon is good but NBC should move show to West coast.

mike d • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Being older and having talked to jay as several times over the years sunday at the rock store I resent him being replaced by a younger guy. jay has led the ratings for quite some time makes no sense to me I’m a letterman fan anyway.

Andy • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Jay is irrelevant. Nbc has been dying to get rid of jay for 10 years. He gets ratings, old people ratings. They want young sponsors. Why has Conan survived on cable late night with just ok ratings? Cause he has the lowest avg aged viewer, gets crazy hits on his website, and thats worht alota $$.

When Jimmy takes over Tonight Show ratings will take a hit cause all the old people will got to Letterman, and Kimmel is growing and growing, but when Letterman retires in a year Jimmy Fallon will be ok

Leather & Lace • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Years from now,people will speak of this Jimmy Fallon/Tonight Show disaster.The Conan/Leno mess was only a rehearsal for what will be an even worse failure this time around.Can anyone really see Jimmy Fallon still at the Tonight Show helm in 10-20 years-anyone?

Ann • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

I agree Johnny was the fav. it’s just sickening that people get old.

David4 • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

I think it was a planned break because the Thursday show was “new” but filmed on January 9.

Jed • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

As if NBC doesn’t have enough problems already with their primetime lineup, wait until this new late night lineup takes fold, as they’re going to wish they never made these moves and if this entire latenight offering tanks in the ratings, you can expect a lot of heads to roll at NBC Universal, starting with Telegdy and a few more under his wing. These are very risky moves and why tinker with the #1 spot to begin with? Fallon is awful at what he does as he tries way too hard to be funny and Myers is a novice coming over from SNL which doesn’t automatically guarantee success. But with a network as desperate as NBC is right now, they’re wiling to try anything that sticks and that’s just asking for a brusin. The one factor they have going for them right now is the Olympics are coming up, which guarantees them a sweeps victory for the month.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno was the Best!! Yes Jimmy Fallon is funny and talented but his antics won’t fly on the Tonight Show. I love you Jay Leno and will miss you terribly!

Anonymous • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

It’s too bad they didn’t offer “The Tonight Show” to Mike Meyers.

Now, that’s a showman who is worth watching and could bring in viewers.

Mike • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

So Conan works 16 years on Late Night, Jay Leno’s ratings are good, Jay recieves word in 2004 NBC wants Conan to take over, Conan gets TTS in 2009 lasts 6 months, NBC lets Leno hang around with the Jay Leno show, it bombs and they want to move it to TTS slot. Conan objects, he’s out and Jays back in, Fallon replaces Conan in 2009 and does Late Night for around 5 years and NBC decides to tell Jay in 2013 to really hit the road for good they like Fallon because he dances with Timberlake and is in touch with social media so that qualifys him for TTS. NBC is a mess.

Obvious • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

There won’t be any “highs” after Fallon takes the show over.

Colleen Koehl • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Jimmy Fallon is an incredibly talented entertainer who is a great guy,
loves people and is great to his fans. The Roots, writers & Steve Higgins are all going with him to the Tonight Show. So excited for him! The Tonight Show will be better than ever!

Criswell Predicts • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Fallon will be gone by Thanksgiving or Christmas. He will start with high numbers from the Olympics and then it will be a steady decline and by September panic and desperation will be rampant within 30 Rock.

By October the media drumbeat will turn into a constant refrain and NBC will be sending up trial balloons with the names of new hosts who can replace Fallon. There is no way NBC will be happy with a 3rd place Tonight Show and that’s where he’s going to take them.

One year from now the Tonight Show will have a new host the only question is who it will be. Tina Fey could end up with the job if she wants it. There will be a dozen other names in play and Bob Greenblatt will have to choose a new host.

Lorne Michaels will no longer have any input but he will remain at SNL and with the Seth Meyers Late Night Show. Fallon will go to Comedy Central or HBO and Leno will be on CNN in place of Piers Morgan.

JohnInDC • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

All plausible scenarios but I believe Fallon will do well. Hate to see Jay go, but it is time. Five years from he could be gone. We’ll see. Let’s hope Fallon starts on track (not off track like the Broncos).

Carnac The Magnificent • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Valentine’s Day,The Olympic Games on NBC,Jimmy Fallon as host of The Tonight Show.”Name three things that won’t make it past February”

Kim • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Jimmy Fallon just isn’t my preference because he tries too hard to be funny. It would be like Chris Farley taking over the tonight show. Carson, Leno, Letterman, Kimmel all have a relaxed natural comedy and hosting skill which is good for late night. Even Conan with his spastic behavior had something endearing about his hosting but Fallen is Saturday Night Live funny but forced. If the tonight show wants to appeal to a younger audience that’s good but who is the audience now and does NBC want to keep them?

OUT OUT IT • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

STILL —–haven’t HURLED? —-that SET? — – – -YET ?

Mary • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

I don’t get why anyone finds Jimmy Fallon funny. I watched him on Late Night at first and it grew old fast, didn’t watch him much at all since, I doubt he will change much (some new skits, longer opening monologue). They should have stuck with Conan but I hear he was cheaper than Jay to buy out (42 mill vs 100 mill). NBC obviously wants Leno outta there now but Fallon’s rating will be ok for 2 weeks and drop off badly. Big mistake not giving Conan the support they are giving Fallon now.

Nicolas • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Oh dear god 20 years or more coming of Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, go help us all.

Anonymous • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Until Leno takes it back, should take about 6 months not 20 years lol. Fallon won’t be doing tonight show for 20 years!!!! he isn’t funny and his ratings will not impress the NBC brass. They will give him more time than Conan, I’d say about 3 or 5 years before another shakeup happens.

Jimbo • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Wow stupid to compare this Fallon hack to Johnny Carson, no one can hold a candle to him still. No one, Fallon is to dumb to ever be better than Carson he sucks at interviewing to, Carson was amazing at that.

Colleen it's your mother • on Feb 1, 2014 11:00 am

Colleen. You are sick. You and I both know Higgins needs to put back on the Grimace outfit and start doing MCDonalds parties again.

fallon – like conan – just too childish. don’t think he’ll fit the bill – leno had the right balance for demographic – which isn’t the kids. hope they bring leno back and don’t understand why they’re so quick to shove him out the door …..